Insertable stent and methods of making and using same

Abstract

An insertable stent is provided for joining together and facilitating healing of adjacent tissues. Typically, the tissues are mammalian tissues. The insertable stent is made from completely non-toxic, bio- and blood-compatible materials. Each of the tissues employed herein defines an internal cavity. The insertable stent body defines a bore. The bore permits fluid to pass through the insertable stent body. In use, the insertable stent body is introduced into the internal cavities of the tissues. The insertable stent body fits within the confines of, and in contact with, each of the adjacent tissues. Typically, at least a portion of the insertable stent body is fusible to the adjacent tissues for facilitating healing of these tissues.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. An insertable stent for joining together and facilitating healing of adjacent tissues, the tissues defining an internal cavity, the insertable stent comprising an insertable stent body including at least one fusible portion, and at least one unfusible portion having a portion which is dissolvable during healing permitting fluid to pass therethrough, the insertable stent body being introduceable into, and fitting within the confines of the internal cavity, in contact with and fusible to the adjacent tissues. 
     
     
       2. The insertable stent of  claim 1 , which defines a bore therewithin for permitting fluid to pass therethrough. 
     
     
       3. The insertable stent of  claim 1 , wherein the insertable stent body comprises a biocompatable insertable stent body. 
     
     
       4. The insertable stent of  claim 1 , wherein the insertable stent body includes a chromophore in the fusible portion. 
     
     
       5. The insertable stent of  claim 4 , wherein said chromophore comprises a dye material. 
     
     
       6. The insertable stent of  claim 1 , wherein the insertable stent body includes at least one therapeutic drug. 
     
     
       7. The insertable stent of  claim 6 , wherein said therapeutic drug is selected from the group consisting of antibiotics, antiinflammatories, antithrombotics, vitamins, peptide growth factors. 
     
     
       8. The insertable stent of  claim 1 , wherein the insertable stent body comprises a protein. 
     
     
       9. The insertable stent of  claim 8 , wherein said protein is selected from the group consisting of albumins, elastins, collagens, globulins, fibrinogens, fibronectins, thrombins, and fibrins. 
     
     
       10. The insertable stent of  claim 1 , wherein the fusible portion of the insertable stent is formed employing an energy source. 
     
     
       11. The insertable stent of  claim 10 , wherein said energy source is electromagnetic, photothermal or photochemical. 
     
     
       12. The insertable stent of  claim 1 , wherein the insertable stent body includes a radiopaque agent. 
     
     
       13. The insertable stent of  claim 12 , wherein said radiopaque agent is selected from the group consisting of iothalamate meglumine, diatrizoate meglumine, diatrizoate sodium, and ioversol. 
     
     
       14. A method for manufacturing an insertable stent for joining together and facilitating healing of adjacent tissues, the tissues defining an internal cavity, comprising: 
       forming an insertable stent body including at least one fusible portion, and at least one unfusible portion having a portion which is dissovable during healing permitting fluid to pass therethrough, the insertable stent body being introduceable into, and fitting within the confines of the internal cavity, in contact with and fusible to the adjacent tissues.  
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the insertable stent body defines a bore therewithin for permitting fluid to pass therethrough. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 14 , wherein said insertable stent body is a biocompatable insertable stent body. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 14 , which includes incorporating at least one chromophore into said insertable stent body in the fusible portion. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , wherein said chromophore is a dye material. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 14 , which includes incorporating at least one therapeutic drug into said insertable stent body. 
     
     
       20. The method of claims  19 , wherein said therapeutic drug is selected from the group consisting of antibiotics, antiinflammatories, antithrombotics, vitamins, peptide growth factors. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the insertable stent body comprises a protein. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 21 , wherein said protein is selected from the group consisting of albumins, elastins, collagens, globulins, fibrinogens, fibronectins, thrombins and fibrins. 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the fusible portion of the insertable stent is formed employing an enery source. 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 23 , wherein said energy source is electromagnetic, photothermal or photochemical. 
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the insertable stent body comprises a radiopaque agent. 
     
     
       26. The method of  claim 25 , wherein said radiopaque agent is selected from the group consisting of iothalamate meglumine, diatrizoate meglumine, diatrizoate sodium, and ioversol. 
     
     
       27. A method for joining together and facilitating healing of tissues, comprising: 
       providing a plurality of tissues each having an internal cavity and ends;  
       providing an insertable stent comprising a insertable stent body including at least one fusible portion, and at least one unfusible portion having a portion which is dissolvable during said healing;  
       introducing said insertable stent into the internal cavity of each tissue;  
       aligning the tissues so that the ends are located adjacent to each other; and  
       fusing said fusible portion of said insertable stent body to said tissues.  
     
     
       28. The method of  claim 27 , wherein said unfusible portion defines a bore therewithin for permitting fluid to pass therethrough. 
     
     
       29. The method of  claim 27 , wherein the insertable stent body comprises a biocompatable insertable stent body. 
     
     
       30. The method of  claim 27 , wherein the insertable stent body includes a chromophore in the fusible portion. 
     
     
       31. The method of  claim 30 , wherein said chromophore is a dye material. 
     
     
       32. The method of  claim 27 , wherein said insertable stent body comprises a protein. 
     
     
       33. The method of  claim 32 , wherein said protein is selected from the group consisting of alburins, elastins, collagens, globulins, fibrinogens, fibronectins, thrombins and fibrins. 
     
     
       34. The method of  claim 27 , wherein said insertable stent body, upon fusing, comprises a denatured portion and a non-denatured portion. 
     
     
       35. The method of  claim 27 , wherein said fusing of insertable stent body to tissues comprises electromagnetically radiating said insertable stent body. 
     
     
       36. The method of  claim 27 , wherein said insertable stent body comprises at least one fused and at least one unfused portion; and 
       which includes the step of dissolving at least a portion of the unfused portion of said insertable stent body during healing of said tissues.  
     
     
       37. The method of  claim 27 , wherein the insertable stent body includes at least one therapeutic drug; and 
       which includes the step of releasing at least a portion of said therapeutic drug from the insertable stent body during healing of said tissues.  
     
     
       38. The method of  claim 37 , wherein said therapeutic drug is selected from the group consisting of antibiotics, antiinflammatories, antithrombotics, vitamins, peptide growth factors, nerve growth factors, and insulin like growth factors. 
     
     
       39. The method of  claim 27 , wherein the tissues are selected from a group consisting of blood vessels, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, reproductive, respiratory tubes, grafts, and synthetic prosthetics. 
     
     
       40. The method of  claim 27 , wherein at least one of the tissues expands when said insertable stent is introduced into said cavity. 
     
     
       41. The method of  claim 27 , wherein fusing is conducted without the use of an energy source which is extrinsic to the tissues. 
     
     
       42. The method of  claim 27 , wherein fusing comprises photothermal bonding. 
     
     
       43. The method of  claim 27 , wherein fusing comprises photochemical bonding. 
     
     
       44. The method of  claim 27 , wherein the insertable stent body comprises a radiopaque agent. 
     
     
       45. The method of  claim 44 , wherein said radiopaque agent is selected from the group consisting of iothalainate meglumine, diatrizoate meglumine, diatrizoate sodium, and ioversol. 
     
     
       46. An insertable stent for joining together and facilitating healing of adjacent tissues, each of the adjacent tissues defining an internal cavity, the insertable stent comprising: 
       an insertable stent body, formed of a protein, including at least one fusible portion and at least one unfusible portion, each said unfusible portion having a portion which is dissolvable during said healing; and  
       said unfusible portion of the insertable stent body permitting fluid to pass therethrough,  
       the insertable stent body being introduceable into, and fitting within the confines of the interal cavity, in contact with the adjacent tissues.